Letters

Training mission for Ukrainian military

Defining Ireland’s role

Sat Sept 03 2022 - 00:14

A chara, – You report that Minister for Defence Simon Coveney said Ireland “would like to be involved” in the new EU training mission for the Ukrainian military, and that the Government will provide “practical support” (“Ireland may contribute military personnel to train Ukraine’s army”, News, August 30th). It’s clear that the Government is intent on bending and reshaping the very meaning of Irish neutrality by way of new facts on the ground, a ploy straight out of the playbooks of dissemblers from the Pentagon to the Kremlin. – Is mise,

DOMINIC CARROLL,

Ardfield,

Co Cork.

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Sir, – The majority of the EU member countries are members of Nato, and Nato expansion has undoubtedly played a large role in precipitating the war in Ukraine. How then can the EU be seen as a credible force for peace? In addition, if, following an agreement reached by EU ministers, Ireland sends military personnel to Ukraine, how is that in keeping with Article 29.2 of our Constitution and our obligation to adhere to “adherence to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination”?

As a neutral country, Ireland should desist from supporting EU military interventions and instead use our seat on the Security Council of the United Nations to work for a peaceful solution. – Yours, etc,

ELIZABETH CULLEN,

Kildare.

Sir , – “Ireland may contribute military personnel to train Ukraine’s army” (News, August 31st).

It reminds me of the days when Irish priests used to advise newly married couples about sex. – Yours, etc,

BRENDAN WRIGHT,

Lucan,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – Minister for Defence Simon Coveney’s decision to support the proposal by EU ministers to train Ukraine’s military and to possibly “contribute a small number of military personal” from Ireland should be condemned. This is yet another act that is contrary to Article 29 of Bunreacht na hÉireann and in particular sub-section 2 which notes Ireland’s “adherence to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes”. The Government seems determined to completely erode Ireland’s neutral status – a position cherished by the majority of Irish people, as evidenced by recent polls. All Irish people should resist this insane rush to militarisation. The Irish Government should not even be contemplating contributing troops, no matter how few, to one side in this horrible war.

The reality is that the Ukraine-Russia war has reached a violent stalemate that both sides seem ready to prolong indefinitely at immense human and environmental cost which will only be catastrophic for Ukraine, Russia and the world. The war is a key driver in the current fuel and food inflation crisis now impacting so many lives worldwide. Both sides intensify militarisation, with Nato’s explicit aim to help Ukraine defeat Russia, and so Nato leaders discourage and squander any possibility of peace talks.

The recklessness of firing missiles in and around the largest nuclear plant in Europe at Zaporizhzhia is beyond comprehension.

Yet there is hope, as demonstrated by the fact that Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and UN diplomats are engaged in coordinating grain exports from Odessa and other ports since July 22nd. The obvious next step is to reach some agreement on demilitarisation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and then to have a full ceasefire and peace negotiations.

The Irish Government is content, meanwhile, on joining the Nato militarists in further escalation of the conflict when instead Micheál Martin and Simon Coveney should assert Ireland’s neutral role at both the UN Security Council and the EU and lead the calls for diplomacy and peaceful negotiations to end this horrific war. The future of both the Ukrainian people and all humanity depend on it. – Yours, etc,

JIM ROCHE,

Irish Anti-War Movement,

Dublin 1.

Sir, – The news regarding the potential to deploy Defence Force members to assist in the training of Ukrainian personnel is indeed welcome.

Our contribution so far in assisting Ukraine has been limited to providing very basic non-lethal equipment.

Given the restrictions we imposed on ourselves regarding the deployment of Defence Force personnel overseas with the triple lock, our contribution will probably be limited to a maximum of 12 Defence Forces members. Why as a sovereign nation do we continue to seek the approval of the United Nations Security Council when we wish to deploy more than 12 Defence Force members overseas? The approval by Government, ratified by Dáil Éireann. should be sufficient. It is time to drop the triple lock. – Yours, etc,

CONOR HOGARTY,

Blackrock,

Co Dublin.